LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

BV^o , 

Slielf..J..iI^ 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



PRAYER BOOK 



— AND 



Aids to Private Devotions. 



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"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw 
nigh to you." — James 4 ; 8. 



TIFFIN, OHIO. 

E. R. GOOD & BRO.j 

1894. 






WASHINGTON PItEFAOE 



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.4 brie/ Manual of Prayer and an Aid to Pri- 
vate Devotions, especially for young Christians — 
this was the object held in view in the prepa- 
ration of this little volume, which it is hoped 
may serve as an aid, and encouragement, to a 
great many persons, who sincerely desire to 
come up to the measure of their duty and priv- 
ilege in the worship of God. A book of this 
kind, placed in the hands of young and old, 
may be of great service to them for their well 
being here and hereafter. It consists of seven 
parts : 1 — Scriptural Invitations to Prayer ; 2 — 
Aids to Private Devotions ; 3 — Family Prayers; 
4 — Table Prayers ; 5 — Prayers for and in behalf 
of the Sick ; 6 — Prayers for the use of those 
who are Sick; 7 — Prayers for the Social Prayer 
Meeting. 

May this little book, faithfully used, become 
a guide and companion to many a pilgrim 
through the desert of this world to the Heav- 
enly Jerusalem above. J. H. G. 
Tiffin, O., Dec. 1, 1880. 



Entererd according to an Act of Congress, in the year 

1880, by E. R. Good & Bro., in the office of the 

Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 

1894, by E. R. Good & Bro., in the office of the 

Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



I. Invitations to Prayer. 

Ps. 145 ; 18, 19.— "The Lord is nigh unto all 
them that call upon him, to all that call upon 
him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them 
that fear him : he also will hear their cry, and 
will save them." 

Jer. 29 ; 13. — "And ye shall seek me, and find 
me, when ye shall search for me with all your 
heart." 

Matt. 7 ; 7. — "Ask, and it shall be given you ; 
seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be 
opened unto you." 

IThess. 5; 17. — "Pray without ceasing." 

1 Tim. 2 ; 8. — "I will, therefore, that men 
pray every where, lifting up holy hands, with- 
out wrath and doubting." 

Phil. 4; 6.— "In everything by prayer and 
supplication with thankgiving let your re- 
quests be made known unto God." 

James 5; 13. — "Is any among you afflicted? 
let him pray." 

Isa. 55 ; 6-7. — "Seek ye the Lord while he may 
be found, call upon him while he is near." 

Acts 17 ; 25-28.— "He giveth to all life, and 
breath, and all things; and hath made of one 
blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the 
face of the earth, and hath determined the 
times before appointed, and the bounds of 
their habitation, that they should seek the Lord, 
if haply they might feel after him, and find 
him, though he be not far from every one of 
us : for in him we live and move, and have our 
being." 



4 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

II. Aids to Private Devotions. 

1. Before Uniting with the Church. 

(Also on the anniversary of the day.) 

John 6 ; 68, 69.— "Lord, to whom shall we 
go ? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And 
we believe and are sure that thou art that 
Christ, the Son of the living God." 

Matt. 16; 24. — "If any man will come after 
me, let him deny himself, and take up his 
cross, and follow me." 

Isa. 41 ; 10. — "Fear thou not ; for I am with 
thee : be not dismayed ; for I am thy God : I 
will strengthen thee : yea, I will help thee ; 
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of 
my righteousness." 

Matt. 10; 32, 33.— "Whosoever, therefore, 
shall confess me before men, him will I con- 
fess also before my Father which is in heaven. 
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him 
will I also deny before my Father which is in 
heaven." 

John 17 ; 3-10. — "And this is life eternal, that 
they nr'ght know thee the only true God, and 
Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I pray for 
them ; I pray not for the world, but for them 
which thou hast given me : for they are thine. 
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine." 

Rom. 10; 10.— "For with the heart man be- 
lieveth unto righteousness ; and with the 
mouth, confession is made unto salvation." 

Ps. 116; 13, 14.— "I will take the cup of sal- 
vation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I 
will pay my vows unto the Lord, now in the 
presence of all his people." 



O Lord, my Savior, grant me grace, in 
this hour of preparation, for the solemn 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 5 

step, by which I devote myself to thee, 
and to thy service, for life and for death, 
that I may be able truly to renounce my- 
self, and to lean in faith upon thee, and 
thy perfect work. O be my strength in 
my weakness, and instruct me by thy 
Holy Spirit. Be thou henceforth my 
Prophet, to teach me, my Priest and Sac- 
rifice, to atone for me, and my King-, to 
rule over me. Help me to become more 
and more united to thee, that I may truly 
confess thy name, and present myself a 
living- sacrifice of thankfulness to thee ; 
and that with a free and good conscience 
I may fight against sin and Satan in this 
life, and afterwards reign with thee eter- 
nally in the life above. Keep me, O 
Lord, ever in union and fellowship with 
thy Church, that I may enjoy the dispen- 
sation of the means of grace : so that liv- 
ing in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, 
I may at last be gathered, with all the 
ransomed, into the Church triumphant in 
heaven. Amen. 



Dear Savior, help me this day, to re- 
nounce with all my heart, all evil, the 
lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, 



6 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

and the pride of life. I humbly beseech 
thee, so to surround me with thine lov- 
ing- arms of grace, that I may never 
stray from thy fold, but remain faithful 
unto the end. Amen. 

(On the anniversary of the day.) 
O most merciful God and Father, who 
art faithful in all thy promises, from the 
depths of the heart I praise thee, that 
thou hast enabled me to see and under- 
stand my sin and misery : that thou hast 
revealed to my heart the blessed Redeem- 
er, the Chief among ten thousand, and 
the one altogether lovely, who alone is 
able to rescue from sin and death : and 
that I have a comforting* hope that 
through true faith I have become thy 
child, and an heir of thy promises. O 
God, help me henceforth to lay aside all 
sin, all desire after the vanities of this 
world ; to consecrate myself wholly, 
body, soul, and spirit, unto thy service. 
Be near me, dearest Savior. Be thou to 
me the Way, and the Truth, and the 
Life. Uphold me by thy free grace. 
Send to me the fullness of thy Holy Spir- 
it, that I may be, and remain, thine for 
time and eternity. Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 7 

2. Before Going to Church. 

Ps. 26 ; 12.— u In the congregations will I bless 
the Lord." 

Ps. 95 ; 6, 7.— "O come, let us worship and 
bow down : let us kneel before the Lord our 
maker. For he is our God; and we are the 
people of his pasture, and the sheep of his 
hand." 

1 Pet. 1 ; 25.— "The word of the Lord endu- 
reth forever. And this is the word which by 
the gospel is preached unto you." 



O Lord, hear my prayer, for I will go 
to the house where thine honor dwelleth. 
I will go to thy house, according to thy 
great goodness, and pray towards thy ho- 
ly temple in thy fear. Amen. 

O God, let thy Holy Spirit, who on the 
first day of the week descended on the 
Apostles, descend also upon me, that I 
may be in the spirit on this Lord's day. 
Help me to worship thee as I ought. O 
let me join in the prayers and praises and 
services of the church, with ardent and 
heavenly affections. Let me hear thy 
word with earnest attention, and obey it 
with a sincere and humble mind. Let 
me devote this day to rest ; to medita- 
tion, praise and prayer. And let the 
words of my mouth, and the meditations 



8 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

of my heart be always acceptable in thy 
sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Re- 
deemer. Amen. 



3. After Entering the Church. 

Hab. 2: 20.— u The Lord is in his holy temple: 
let all the earth keep silence before him." 

Ps. 84; 10.— U A day in thy courts is better 
than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeep- 
er in the house of my God, than to dwell in 
the tents of wickedness." 

Gen. 28; 17.— "This is none other but the 
house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." 

O God, from above proceed all holy de- 
sires, all g-ood resolutions, and all just 
works, grant unto me at this time that 
peace which the world cannot g-ive. 
Help me to worship thee in the beauty of 
holiness. Fulfill the desires and peti- 
tions of my heart, so far as it seemeth 
g-ood in thy sig*ht, and grant me in this 
world the knowledg-e of the truth, and in 
the world to come everlasting- life. 
Amen. 



I wait for thee, O Lord, my soul doth 
wait. In thy word do I hope. Let thy 
mercy be upon me, according- as I hope in 
thee. Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 9 

Unto thee do I lift mine eyes, O thou 
that dwellest in the heavens. Mine eyes 
wait upon the Lord my God, that he may 
have mercy upon me. Amen. 



4. Before the Lord's Supper. 

Gal. 6; 14.— "God forbid that I should glory, 
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. " 

Rev. 3 ; 20.— "Behold I stand at the door, and 
knock : If any man hear my voice, and open 
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup 
with him, and he with me." 

1 Cor. 11; 28.— "But let a man examine him- 
self, and so let him eat of that bread and drink 
of that cup." 

Luke 18 ; 13. — "God be merciful to me a 
sinner !" 

1 John 3; 1. — "Behold, what manner of love 
the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we 
should be called the sons of God I" 

Isa. 53; 5. — "He was wounded for our trans- 
gressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; 
the chastisement of our peace was upon him ; 
and with his stripes we are healed." 

John 15 ; 13, 14. — "Greater love hath no man 
than this, that a man lay down his life for his 
friends. Ye are my friends if ye do whatso- 
ever I command you." 

John 15; 5. — "I am the vine, ye are the 
branches : He that abideth in me, and I in him, 
the same bringeth forth much fruit : for" with- 
out me ye can do nothing." 



10 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

O most merciful God, grant me a holy 
sorrow of heart, a living trust in Christ, 
a sure hope of mercy, through his prec- 
ious blood : that I may with a good con- 
science, a believing, penitent and thank- 
ful spirit, approach the table of the 
Lord. Amen. 



Savior of the world : may thy uplifted 
cross strengthen my faith. May thy suf- 
ferings touch and melt my Soul. Help 
me to come to thy table with a broken 
and a contrite spirit, which the High 
and Holy One will not despise. Amen. 



O Lord Jesus Christ : let thy crucified 
body sanctify me unto everlasting life. 
Let thy blood wash me pure from all my 
sins, and open to me an entrance into thy 
holy kingdom. O Thou Lamb of God, 
that takest away the sins of the world, 
let thy body and thy blood strengthen 
me, preserve me, and all communicants, 
in true faith, love and hope, unto eternal 
life. Amen. 

Strengthen my faith, O Lord, that I 
may not only receive the emblems of the 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 11 

body and blood, but that I may also par- 
take of the Lord himself : so that not on- 
ly may I live, but that Christ may live in 
me : and that the life which I shall yet 
live, I may live in the faith of the Son of 
God, who hath loved me, and who gave 
himself to the death of the cross for me. 
Amen. 



Dearest Lord, once crucified for me, 
but now risen from the dead and exalted 
to heaven, thy loving-kindness draws me, 
and I rejoice in view of the privilege of 
partaking of the cup of salvation. O 
grant that by thy grace I may be entire- 
ly consecrated to thy service, now and 
hereafter. Amen. 



O most merciful Father : who hast 
called me to partake of the spiritual food 
of the body and blood of thy dear Son : 
grant me the wedding garment of the 
righteousness of Christ, that I may come, 
duly prepared, to thy heavenly feast. 
Show me my sins, and wash them away in 
the blood of Jesus. Deepen my repent- 
ence ; quicken my faith ; fill my heart 
with love ; save me from coldness and 



12 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

formality. Bless me with an earnest 
spirit, and receive me, unworthy thoug-h 
I be, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



O thou who hast loved me, and de- 
scended unto the most cruel death for my 
sake, fit and prepare me worthily to par- 
take of the Holy Supper. Thou desirest 
my heart : I give it to thee. O grant me 
the benediction of thy Holy Spirit, that 
thou mayest dwell in me, and keep the 
Supper with me, and I with thee. Amen. 



5. After the Lord's Supper. 

Rev. 1 ; 5, 6. — "Unto him that loved us, and 
washed us from our sins in his own blood, and 
hath made us kings and priests unto God and 
his Father ; to him be glory and dominion, for 
ever and ever. Amen." 

1 Pet. 1 ; 15.— "But as he which hath called 
you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of con- 
versation." 

Col. 2 ; 6.— "As ye have therefore received 
Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." 



O most holy and most merciful Father: 
having- tasted this day how sweet are the 
joys that Christ gives to them that seek 
him in truth, and how pure are the pleas- 
ures that flow, through the spirit of all 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 13 

grace, from a living union with Christ 
our Head : grant that I may all my life- 
time fit myself more and more, by grow- 
ing- in holiness, for the eternal Sabbath 
of communion with thee in heaven. 
Amen. 

O Savior, as thou didst give thyself a 
sacrifice for me, that I may yield myself 
a sacrifice to thee : grant that my whole 
life may be a worship, in which I may 
serve thee, and live unto thee : so that 
thou mayest be my all in all, and that in 
thee I may attain unto the resurrection 
of the body, and eternal life. Amen. 



6. On Entering upon the Duties of the 
Day. 

John 9 ; 4. — "I must work the works of him 
that sent me, while it is day: the night com- 
eth, when no man can work!" 

Matt. 26; 81.— "Watch and pray, that ye en- 
ter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is 
willing, but the flesh is weak." 



Heavenly Father, be with me this day 
in my going- out, and in my coming- in. 
Make me watchful and circumspect in 
my walk and conversation. Put thy fear 



14 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

into my heart, O God, that I may be kept 
from sinning* against thee. Amen. 



Direct me, O Lord, in all my doing's, by 
thy gracious Spirit, and further me with 
thy continual help : that in all my works, 
begun, continued and ended in thee, I 
may glorify thy holy name : and finally, by 
thy mercy, attain unto everlasting- life, 
throug-h Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



O Lord God, who hast safely brought 
me to the beginning of another day : de- 
fend me by thy power ; guard me against 
sin and error : and so order the events of 
this day, that they may promote thy 
glory, and the welfare of my fellow-men: 
through Christ the Lord. Amen. 



7. On Retiring to Rest. 

Ps.!4; 8. — "I will lay me down in peace, and 
sleep : for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell 
in safety." 

Ps. 121; 2-5.— "My help cometh from the 
Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will 
not suffer thy foot to be moved ; he that keep- 
eth thee shall not slumber. Behold, he that 
keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 
The Lord is thy keeper ; the Lord is thy shade 
upon thy right hand." 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. IS 

Take me, O Lord, under thy gracious 
protection during- this night. Preserve 
me from all dangers and perils. Keep 
me in peace and in safety. Give me that 
rest that shall refresh me in body, soul 
and spirit. Grant that I may arise, in 
health, to praise thee for thy goodness : 
for Christ's sake. Amen. 



Let my sleep be sweet, and free from 
sin. May the Savior and Guardian of my 
soul take me under his protection this 
night and evermore. Amen. 



I offer unto thee, O Lord, my evening- 
sacrifice of thanksgiving*. Thou hast 
preserved me from all dang-ers during* the 
day now past. Thou hast been my sup- 
port from my youth until now. Under 
the shadow of thy wings let me pass 
throug*h the darkness of this night in 
comfort and peace. Make me to remem- 
ber thee on my bed ; to think upon thee 
when I am waking, and to commune 
with mine own heart. And whatever 
days thou shalt please to add to my life, 
let them all be devoted to thy service and 
to thy glory : for Christ's sake. Amen. 



16 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

O Lord, grant that I may lie down to 
sleep with the same charitable disposit- 
ions with which I desire and hope to die. 
I pray for all my friends. I pray for 
all that are my enemies and adversar- 
ies ; not for judgment and vengeance 
upon them, but for mercy ; for the remis- 
sion of their sins, and for their eternal 
welfare. Amen. 



To my weariness, O Lord, vouchsafe 
thou rest. To my exhaustion, renew 
thou strength. Deliver me from the ter- 
ror by nig-ht, and the pestilence that 
walketh in darkness. Supply me with 
restful sleep ; and grant that I may pass 
this nig-ht without fear. O Keeper of 
Israel, who neither slumberest nor sleep- 
est, keep me in safety of body and soul. 
Let me awake, and be present with thee. 
Let me lie down in peace, and take my 
rest : for it is thou, Lord, only who mak- 
est me to dwell in safety. Amen. 



8. On the Death of one's Father or 
Mother. 

Ps. 116; 15.— "Precious in the sight of the 
Lord is the death of his saints." 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 17 

Ex. 3 ; 6.— "I am the God of thy father, the 
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the 
God of Jacob." 

Luke 20, 33.— " He is not a God of the dead, 
but of the living : for all live unto him." 



Almighty and most merciful God, the 
consolation of the sorrowful, and the 
support of the weary : thou dost not wil- 
lingly grieve nor afflict the children of 
men. Look down in pity, I beseech 
thee, upon thy servant whose joy is turn- 
ed into mourning. According to the 
multitude of thy mercies, be pleased to 
uphold, guide and strengthen me in my 
affliction, that I may not faint, but find 
in thee my comfort and refuge. Help 
me to keep in grateful remembrance all 
that the departed one has done for me, 
in the years that are past ; and may this 
encourage me to live and labor well 
while the Lord gives me life : for 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



O Lord God, Heavenly Father, who 
alone art the author and disposer of life : 
from whom our spirits have come, and to 
whom they shall return : I bow myself 
before thee, and acknowledge thy sover- 



18 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

eign right, both to give and take away, 
as seemeth good in thy sight. O Lord, 
help me to rest in thy word, that thy 
thoughts are higher than our thoughts, 
and thy ways higher than our ways. I 
would humbly, but in faith, say : The 
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken 
away : Blessed be the name of the Lord. 
Amen. 

9. On the Death of a Friend. 

Job 14; 14.— "If a man die, shall he live 
again ?" 

John 11 ; 25, 26.— -"Jesus said unto Martha, I 
am the resurrection and the life ; he that be- 
lieveth in me, though he were dead, yet shall 
he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth 
in me shall never die. 

Isa. 64 ; 6. — "We all do fade as a leaf; and 
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us 
away." 

1 Cor. 7; 29-31.— "But this I say, brethren, 
the time is short : it remaineth that they that 
weep be as though they wept not ; and they 
that rejoice as though they rejoiced not ; and 
they that buy, as though they possessed not ; 
and they that use this world, as not abusing 
it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." 

Ecc. 9; 10.— "Whatsoever thy hand findeth 
to do, do it with thy might: for there is no 
work nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, 
in the grave whither thou goest. 



O God, I humbly beseech thee to make 
me deeply sensible of the shortness and 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 19 

uncertainty of human life : and grant me 
that the Good Shepherd may lead me safe- 
ly through this vale of tears into another 
and a better land. I bless thee for the 
Christian hope revealed through thy 
dear Son, and that we know that he has 
gone before us to prepare those mansions 
above for those that are his. O grant, 
that when I shall have served thee in my 
generation, I may be gathered unto my 
fathers, having the testimony of a good 
conscience : in the communion of thy 
holy Church ; in the assurance of a cer- 
tain faith ; in the comfort of the Christian 
hope : in favor with thee, my God : and 
in perfect charity with all the world : for 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



O most merciful Father in Heaven : 
grant me grace to bear with Christian 
submission this afflicting stroke from thy 
hand. Teach me, that in love, and as a 
Father, thou hast visited me so heavily. 
Direct my thoughts to where alone true 
comfort can be found, even the revela- 
tion of thy fatherly wisdom, and the love 
of my merciful Redeemer. Help me to 
remember that such must also be my lot 



20 PRIVATE DKVOTIONS. 

some day : that I too must close my eyes 
on this world, and pass away from the 
land of the living-. O, when my turn 
shall come, may I lie down in peace, and 
fall asleep in Jesus. To this end, may 
my loins be girt, and my light be burn- 
ing, looking for thy summons. And 
thus may I be enabled to praise thee for- 
ever in thy kingdom above : through him 
who is the Resurrection and the Life, 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



10. When under Conviction of Sin. 

Ezra 9 ; 6.— "O my God, I am ashamed and 
blush to lilt up my/lace to thee, my God." 

Job 42; 6.— "I abhor myself, and repent in 
dust and ashes." 

Ps. 51; 17. — "The sacrifices of God are a 
broken spirit : a broken and contrite heart, O 
God, thou wilt not despise." 

1 Johnl; 9. — "If we confess our sins, he is 
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to 
cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

Mark 10; 47.— "Jesus, thou Son of David, 
have mercy on me." 

Mark 9; 24. — "Lord, I believe; help thou 
mine unbelief." 

1 John 1 ; 7. — "The blood of Jesus Christ, 
his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." 



O Lord, I am ashamed to come before 
thee. But I must come, or perish. I de- 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 21 

spair of myself. My own righteousness 
is but as filthy rags. I know that thou 
art angry with the sinner. But I know 
that thou pitiest me. Else why do I yet 
live. O make me full of genuine sorrow 
for all my sins ; but also full of hopes of 
thy mercy and forgiveness : for Christ's 
sake. Amen. 



O most Holy and most Merciful God : 
spare me, thy poor, sinful, but repenting 
creature. O give me rest — rest in thy 
perfect atonement ; rest in the blood of 
Jesus, which cleanseth from all sin : rest 
in that victorious faith, which lays hold 
on the perfect work and infinite merits of 
Christ, my Savior. Amen. 



11. After a Relapse into Sin. 

Luke 15 ; 21. — "Father, I have sinned against 
heaven and in thy sight, and am no more 
worthy to be called thy son." 

Neh. 13; 22. — "Spare me according to the 
greatness of thy mercy." 

Dan. 9; 8. — "To us belongeth confusion of 
face, because we have sinned against thee." 

Ps. 51 ; 4. — "Against thee, thee only, have I 
sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." 

Ps. 69 ; 1-15.— "Save me, O God ; for the 
waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in 
deep mire, where there is no standing. I am 



22 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

come into deep waters, where the floods over- 
flow me. I am weary of my crying: mine 
eyes fail while I wait for my God. God, in 
the multitude of thy mercy hear me. Deliver 
me out of the mire, and let me not sink: iet 
me be delivered out of the deep waters. Let 
not the waterflood overflow me, neither let 
the deep swallow me up." 



O Almighty and Merciful God, I hum- 
bly prostrate myself, a guilty sinner, be- 
fore thy throne, accusing* and condemn- 
ing- myself, with true and heart-felt sor- 
row, for my sins. I confess them with 
shame and confusion of face. Have pity 
upon me, according- to thy great good- 
ness : and according- to the multitude of 
thy mercies blot out our transgressions : 
for the sake of the passion and the mer- 
its of Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen. 



O most merciful Father, who hast 
compassion upon all penitent men, and 
desirest not the death of a sinner, but 
rather that he should turn from his sins 
and be saved : mercifully hear my hum- 
ble prayer, and forg-ive my great trans- 
gressions. Spare me, g*ood Lord, spare 
me, an unprofitable servant. Enter not 
into judgment with thy servant, but so 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 23 

turn thine anger from me, who truly, in 
dust and in ashes repent of my sins, and 
so make haste to help me, that I may see 
thy reconciled face ; that I may ever live 
in communion with thee, both in this 
life, and in the world to come : for 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



I, a poor sinner, confess before thee, 
my God, and Creator, that I have griev- 
ously sinned against thee, not only with 
outward transgressions, but with inward 
unbelief, blindness, pride, envy and 
other sinful affections. I deplore my 
sins of omission and commission. I re- 
pent of these sins with faith unfeigned, 
and I sorrow <m account of them. I 
heartily beseech thee for mercy and for- 
giveness. O grant me daily increase of 
thy Spirit, that I may be able to turn 
from all sin, to resist all temptation, and 
hereafter to live entirely to thine honor 
and glory : for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



12. In Times of Adversity and Poverty. 

Ps. 50; 15.— "Call upon me in the day of 
trouble : I will deliver thee, and thou shalt 
glorify me," 



24 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

Ps. 102; 17. — "He will regard the prayer of 
the destitute, and not despise their prayer." 

Prov. 30 ; 8, 9. — "Give me neither poverty 
nor riches ; feed me with food convenient for 
me : lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who 
is the Lord? or, lest I be poor and steal, and 
take the name of my God in vain." 

James 2; 5. — "Hearken, my beloved breth- 
ren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this 
world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom 
which he hath promised to them that love 
him?" 

2 Cor. 8;9. — "For ye know the grace of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, 
yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye 
through his poverty might be rich. 

Matt. 5 ; 3. — "Blessed are the poor in spirit; 
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

Matt. 6; 26, 33.— "Behold the fowls of the air: 
for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor 
gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father 
feedeth them. Are ye not much better than 

they? But seek ye first the kingdom of 

God, and his righteousness ; and all these 
things shall be added unto you." 



O merciful Savior ; who didst feed the 
thousands with the few loaves and fishes, 
and who art the same, yesterday, to-day, 
and forever, look upon me with an eye of 
compassion. Help me, that I may not 
despair, but trust in the faithful Father, 
who feeds the fowls of the air, and will 
not forsake me, if I trust in him. Cause 
goodness and mercy to follow me all the 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 25 

days of my life, and let me dwell in the 
house of the Lord forever. Amen. 

O God, my Heavenly Father : in thee 
alone is my help, in this time of adversi- 
ty. Thou hast sorely afflicted me, but I 
know that it is in love. For thou art a 
merciful God, and wilt not lay upon me 
a burden too heavy for me to bear. Un- 
to thee do I lift up mine eyes. Place 
around me thine everlasting- arms ; make 
me to know, that as my days, so shall 
my strength be. Hide me under the cov- 
ert of thy wings, and speak comfort to 
my soul. Amen. 

Thou art able, O Lord, so to strength- 
en me, that I may be able to bear up un- 
der all my privations and wants. Thou 
didst not spare thine only-begotten Son, 
wilt thou not with him freely give me all 
things necessary for my temporal and 
spiritual wants ? Help me to regard the 
lilies of the field. O Thou who clothest 
the grass of the field, which to-day is, 
and to-morrow is cast into the oven, 
make me to know by faith, that thou 
wilt much more clothe me and mine. 
Thou knowest, O Heavenly Father, that 



26 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

we have need of all these thing's. Make 
me to seek first the kingdom of God, and 
his righteousness : and let all these 
things be added thereto : for Christ's 
sake. Amen. 



13. In Times of Prosperity. 

Ps. 62; 10. — "If riches increase, set not your 
heart upon them." 

Matt. 10 ; 8. — "Freely ye hath received, freely 
give." 

Ps. 103 ; 2-4.— Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 
forget not all his benefits: who crowneth thee 
with loving kindness and tender mercies." 

1 Tim. 6; 17-19.— "Charge them that are rich 
in this world, that they be not high-minded, 
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living 
God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 
that they do good, that they be rich in good 
works, ready to distribute, willing to commu- 
nicate ; laying up in store for themselves a 
good foundation against the time to come, 
that they may lay hold on eternal life." 

Acts 20 ; 35. — "It is more blessed to give 
than to receive." 

Heb. 13; 16. — "But to do good, and to com- 
municate, forget not : for with such sacrifices 
God is well pleased." 



O Lord, God of all providence, it is 
thine to endow with wealth, or to sub- 
ject to poverty. May prosperity and 
abundance never become a snare to my 
soul. May the} 7 not estrang-e my heart 



privatk devotions. 27 

from thee. Teach me, that a man's life 
consists not in the abundance of the 
things that he possesseth, and that even 
poverty, with the divine favor, is better 
than riches, where thy blessing* is not 
present. Therefore take not away from 
me thy Holy Spirit, and teach me to lay 
up treasure in heaven, that shall never 
pass away : for Christ's sake. Amen. 



O Heavenly Father, thou hast indeed 
blessed my labors and efforts far beyond 
what I have deserved. Thou hast pros- 
pered me thus far. O make me sincerely 
thankful. Tune my heart to praise thee 
as I oug-ht. Put a new song- in my 
mouth, even thanksgiving* unto my God. 
Preserve me from being* too much taken 
up with the thing's of this world. Make 
me ever mindful that this world is not 
my abiding* home, my rest. Amen. 



O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy 
name in all the earth ! Teach me to 
praise and bless thee for all thy g*oodness 
and mercy. Let thy temporal blessing's 
remind me of the greater riches of thy 
goodness revealed in the gift of thy son, 



28 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

for redemption from sin and for adoption 
into thy family. Seeing* thy great mer- 
cies, teach me to ask, What shall I ren- 
der unto the Lord for all his benefits ? 
Teach me to reg-ard myself as thy ser- 
vant, thy steward : that so I may do 
g-ood to all men, and faithfully discharge 
all my duties to my fellow-men, and to 
the church of the living- God. And at 
last be prepared to render up a g-ood ac- 
count : throug-h Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Amen. 



14. In Times of Temptation. 

James 1 ; 2, 3.— "My brethren, count it all 
joy when ye fall into divers temptations ; 
knowing this, that the trying of your faith 
worketh patience." 

1 Cor. 10; 13.— u God is faithful, who will not 
suffer you to be tempted above that ye are 
able ; but will with the temptation also make 
a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear 
it." 

Heb. 4 ; 15. — "For we have not a high priest 
which cannot be touched with a feeling of our 
infirmities ; but was in all points tempted like 
as we are, yet without sin." 

2 Cor. 12 ; 9.— "And he said unto me, My 
grace is sufficient for thee : for my strength is 
made perfect in weakness." 

Heb. 2; 18.— "For in that he himself hath 
suffered being tempted, he is able to succor 
them that are tempted." 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 29 

1 Pet. 5 ; 8. — "Be sober, be vigilant ; be- 
cause your adversary, the devil, as a roaring 
lion, walketh about seeking whom he may de- 
vour: whom resist steadfast in the faith." 



O God, Faithful and Merciful Father, 
the Refug-e of all who are tempted and 
tried, aid me in the midst of the tempta- 
tions of this wicked world. Suffer me 
not to be tried above what I am able to 
bear. Grant me watchfulness and pa- 
tience in all my temptations. Out of the 
depths I cry to thee for strength, for help 
and for deliverance. Merciful Saviour, 
stretch out thine arm and uphold me, 
and bring* me at last in safety to that 
world, where sin and temptation shall 
cease, and where sorrow and sig\hing- 
shall be no more : for Christ's sake. 
Amen. 



O Lord, when the enemy comes in like 
a flood, do thou lift up a standard 
ag-ainst him. Enable me to stand in the 
evil day, and having* done all, to stand : 
throug-h Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



O Faithful Saviour, who art the true 
Shepherd of souls, let me hear thy voice 



30 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

sounding- in my ears, Watch and Pray. 
Grant me a just sense of my own inabil- 
ity and weakness, that I may rely, not in 
my own strength, but on thy sustaining- 
grace : so that I may be dilig-ent in pra} 7 - 
er, fervent in the Spirit, and by thy 
streng-th may be a conqueror in all the 
assaults of the evil one : throug-h the 
merits and mediation of Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



O Holy and Merciful Saviour, have 
mercy upon me in all hours of temptation 
and trial : in all dang-ers of soul and 
body ; in prosperity and in adversity ; in 
the hour of death and in the day of- 
judg-ment. O save and deliver me, and 
all followers of Jesus. Amen. 



15. In Tiines of Despondency. 

Ps. 143; 4. — "My spirit is overwhelmed with- 
in me ; my heart within me is desolate." 

Ps. 116; 6. — "I was brought low, and he 
helped me." 

Isa. 61 ; 1, 2.— "The Spirit of the Lord God is 
upon me : because the Lord hath anointed me 
to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath 
sent me to bind up the broken-hearted ; to 
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord ; to 
comfort all that mourn." 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 31 

1 Cor. 16 ; 13.— "Watch ye, stand fast in the 
faith, quit you like men, be strong." 

Isa. 43 ; 2.— "When thou passest through the 
waters, I will be with thee : and through the 
rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when 
thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not 
be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle up- 
on thee." 

Phil. 4; 13.— "I can do all things through 
Christ which strengthened me." 



Grant, O Lord, that amid all the diffi- 
culties, dangers, darkness and adversi- 
ties of this life, I may depend upon thy 
powerful help and thy great mercy, and 
on thee build my hope, as on a sure foun- 
dation. Let thine infinite love in Christ 
Jesus deliver me from despondency and 
despair, from doubt and unbelief : both 
now amid the present difficulties, and at 
the hour of death : for Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 



O Lord, my God, thou seest that my 
heart is overwhelmed within me : that I 
am faint and weary. O lead me to the 
rock that is hig-her than I. Why ' art 
thou cast down, O my soul ? And why 
art thou disquieted within me ? Hope 
thou in God : for I shall yet praise him 



32 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

who is the health of my countenance, 
and my God. Amen. 

O Thou, who art my Guide and Friend, 
my Counsellor and Advocate, to thee I 
come in this my time of need. Lord, 
thou knowest how sorely I am tried by 
spiritual doubts and fears. Have com- 
passion upon me. Pity thy servant, and 
in thine own good time make every doubt 
and difficulty to vanish. In the mean- 
while support me by thy grace. O hold 
me up, lest I sink. Let not the waves 
overwhelm me. Speak to my heart, and 
make me to feel thy love towards me. 
Show me that thou art indeed my Father 
and my God. Lord, I believe ; help thou 
mine unbelief. Hearken to thy servant 
in his distress, and when thou hearest, 
put forth thy power to save : for thine 
own sake, who with the Father and the 
Holy Spirit art one God over all, blessed 
forevermore. Amen. 



16. In Times of Care and Trouble. 

Ps. 31 ; 9, 10.— "Have mercy upon me, O 
Lord, for I am in trouble. For my life is spent 
with grief and my years with sighing. " 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 33 

Ps. 37; 5. — "Commit thy way unto the Lord: 
trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." 

Ps. 70; 1.— "Make haste, O God, to deliver 
me ; make haste to help me, O God." 

Ps. 126 ; 5, 6.— "They that sow in tears shall 
reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, 
bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come 
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with 
him." 

1 Pet. 5 ; 7.— "Cast all your care upon him, 
for he careth for you." 

Rom. 5 ; 3-5.— "We glory in tribulations also; 
knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 
and patience, experience; and experience, 
hope ; and hope maketh not ashamed." 

"Job. 5 ; 19.— "He shall deliver thee in six 
troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil 
touch thee." 



O God, my heavenly Father : in all my 
cares and sorrows, I look up in faith un- 
to thee, in whose hands are all our ways. 
Help me to say with all my heart, Thy 
will be done. And grant that the sor- 
rows of my pilgrimag-e throug-h this val- 
ley of tears, may teach me that this 
world is not our true rest, but that we 
must seek another and a better country. 
Amen. 



O most Merciful Father, who hast 
brought me low, and bowed down my 
heart in sorrow, graciously hear and as- 



34 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

sist me now. Sanctify unto me all thy 
fatherly dispensations, and let them 
prove a blessing to my soul. I know 
that thy judgments are right. O inspire 
me with true wisdom, that I may be sub- 
missive to thy will. While I am in the 
world, keep me from all evil, and let thy 
good Spirit direct and rule my heart in 
all things : for Christ's sake. Amen. 

O God, thou art the same yesterday, 
to-day and forever. A thousand years 
in thy sight are but as yesterday when 
it is past, and as a watch in the night. 
Thou hast been the refuge of thy people 
in all generations. Amid earthly cares 
and sorrows, we can find rest and repose 
in thee. In thee we can lay up a good 
foundation against the time to come. 
From the weakness and woes of earth, 
the heart seeks strength and eternal life 
in thee. Help me to be patient. Help 
me to be content. As Jesus drank the 
deep cup of affliction, and passed through 
the deep waters of sorrow, and meekly 
bore his cross : so, looking up to him as 
my Guide and Pattern, let me ever walk 
meekly and contentedly in his footsteps, 



PRIVATK DKVOTIONS. 35 

until thou callest me out of the sorrows 
of this life, into thy heavenly rest above: 
for Christ's sake. Amen. 



17. In Times of Sickness or Pestilence. 

Hosea 6 ; 1. — "Come, and let us return unto 
the Lord : for he hath smitten and he will bind 
us up." 

Ps. 142 : 5, 6.— "I cried unto thee, O Lord : I 
said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in 
the land of the living : attend unto my cry ; for 
I am brought very low." 

Ps. 90; 7. — "We are consumed by thine an- 
ger, and by thy wrath are we troubled." 

Ps. 90; 14, 15.— "O satisfy us early with thy 
mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all 
our days : make us glad according to the days 
wherein thou hast afflicted us." 

Matt. 8 ; 25. — "Lord save us : we perish." 

Lam. 3; 22. — "It is of the Lord's mercies 
that we are not consumed, because his com- 
passions fail not." 

Ps. 145; 20.— "The Lord preserveth all them 
that love him." 

Ex. 23; 25. — "Ye shall serve the Lord your 
God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy wa- 
ter; and I will take sickness away from the 
midst of thee." 



Holy, Lord God Almig-hty, who of old 
didst stay the ang-el of pestilence, at the 
cry of thy repenting- children, and bring- 
back health to a dying- people : hear me, 
as I bow myself before thee in sackcloth 



36 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

and ashes, and grant mercifully to lift 
from us the heavy hand of thy righteous 
visitation : so that we may live before 
thee, and not die in our sins. O Lord, 
have mercy upon, us, for Christ's sake. 
Amen. 



O Lord God, who rejectest none that 
trust in thy goodness and rely upon thy 
promise : I come to thee for succour and 
for help. Look in mercy upon thy peo- 
ple who are now severely afflicted with 
the scourge of thy angry hand. O Lord, 
in wrath remember mercy. Incline thine 
ear, and hear the cry of thy servant. I 
confess that thy judg-ments are just ; I 
humbly acknowledge my sins and short- 
comings : and with a penitent and con- 
trite heart, I earnestly pray that thou 
wouldst in mercy pardon, and spare us, 
and restore and heal us. Thou hast 
promised, that if thy people humble 
themselves, and pray, and seek thy pres- 
ence, and turn from their wicked ways, 
thou wilt hear in heaven, and be merci- 
ful to them, and heal their land. O ful- 
fill now thy gracious promise. Hear, O 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 37 

Lord, and be merciful : even for Christ's 
sake, to whom with thee and the Holy 
Spirit, be ascribed all honor and praise, 
world without end. Amen. 



18. Longings after Holiness. 

Matt. 5 ; 8. — "Blessed are the pure in heart, 
for they shall see God." 

Ps. 73 ; 25.— "Whom have I in heaven but 
thee, and there is none upon earth that I de- 
sire besides thee." 

Ps. 42 ; 1, 2, 8.— "As the hart panteth after 
the water brooks, so panteth my soul after 
thee, O God; my soul thirsteth for God, for 
the living God. Who will command his loving 
kindness in the day time, and in the night his 
song shall be with me, and my prayer unto 
the God of my life." 

Eph. 4; 24. —"That ye put on the new man, 
which after God is created in righteousness 
and true holiness." 

Lam. 3 ; 40.— "Let us search and try our 
ways, and turn again unto the Lord." 

Ps. 51; 10. — "Create in me a clean heart, O 
God ; and renew a right spirit within me." 

Matt. 5 ; 6. — "Blessed are they which do 
hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they 
shall be filled." 



Almighty and most Merciful Father, 
in whose hands are the wills and affec- 
tions of men, kindle in my heart holy de- 
sires and emotions, and drive away all 
corrupt and evil thoughts. O dispose 



38 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

me to perfect love and obedience, that I 
may long after and seek the holiness, 
without which no one shall see the Lord. 
O Strengthen and establish me, that 
amid all the hopes and fears, the joys 
and sorrows, and the temptations of this 
world, my heart may be fixed on high, 
where alone true joys are to be found : 
for Christ's sake. Amen. 



O Lord, Holy and Reverend is thy 
name ! We are not worthy, in ourselves, 
to enter into fellowship with thee : for 
without holiness no man can see the 
Lord. What are we, who are not kept 
our first estate, and who have passed un- 
der the dominion of sin and evil ? How 
can we stand before thee ? O Lord, I 
know thou art of purer eyes than to look 
upon iniquity with allowance. I long, I 
thirst, after greater measures of holi- 
ness : holiness of life, of conversation 
and of heart. For thy name's sake, hear 
me, and accept me in the Beloved. May 
he be made unto me wisdom, and right- 
eousness, and sanctification, and redemp- 
tion. Help me, that I maj^ not walk af- 
ter the flesh, but after the Spirit. Help 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 39 

me, that I may shrink from every ap- 
proach of sin. Help me, that I may pre- 
serve a conscience void of offense ; so 
that I may rise to hig-her duties and 
higher enjoyments, and walk with thee 
daily, like Enoch of old : for Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 



19. Longings after Heaven. 

John 17; 24.— "Father, I will that they also 
whom thou hast given me be with me, where 
I am ; that they may behold my glory, which 
thou hast given me : for thou lovedst me be- 
fore the foundation of the world. " 

John 14 ; 2, 3. — "In my Father's house are 
many mansions : if it were not so, I would 
have told you. I go to prepare a place for 
you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, 
I will come again and receive you unto my- 
self; that where I am, there ye may be also." 

1 Cor. 2 ; 9. — "But as it is written, Eye hath 
not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered 
into the heart of man, the things which God 
hath prepared for them that love him." 

Ps. 55 ; 6.— "Oh that I had wings like a dove ! 
for then would I fly away, and be at rest." 

2 Cor. 4; 17. — "For our light affliction, which 
is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more 
exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 

Job 3 ; 17. — "There the wicked cease from 
troubling; and there the weary be at rest." 

Phil. 1 ; 23. — "Having a desire to depart, and 
to be with Christ ; which is far better." 

2 Pet. 3 ; 13.— "Nevertheless we, according 
to his promise, look for new heavens and a 
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 



40 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

O Merciful God, the Father of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, who is the first fruits 
of the resurrection from the dead, and 
who by entering into glory has opened 
the kingdom of heaven to all believers : 
raise me up, I beseech thee, from the 
death of sin to the life of righteousness, 
that being a partaker of the death of 
Christ, and a follower of his holy life, I 
may be a partaker also of his Spirit and 
of his precious promises ; so that when I 
shall depart this life, I may rest in thee. 
Lord, let thy grace enable me to fight a 
good fight, to finish my course, and to 
keep the faith unto the end, that at the 
last day I may stand at thy right hand, 
and hear the joyful cry, Come, ye bless- 
ed of my Father, receive the kingdom 
prepared for you from the foundation of 
the world. Grant this, O Merciful Fath- 
er : for Christ's sake. Amen. 



O Lord, Heavenly Father : Glory be to 
thee that thou hast reserved for thy peo- 
ple an inheritance, undefiled and that 
fadeth not away. Help me to look for- 
ward, in faith, toward that blessed hope, 
when beyond the wilderness of this 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 41 

world, I can hope to enter into the enjoy- 
ments of the heavenly Canaan. Oh, 
when shall I be with thee where thou 
art, and behold thy glory ? In thy pres- 
ence is fullness of joy, and at thy right 
hand are pleasures forevermore. O Lord, 
help me to appropriate the precious 
promise of entering into that rest that is 
reserved for the people of God. Enable 
me to lay up a good foundation against 
the time to come. In Jesus I trust. 
Amen. 



20. Thanksgivings. 

Ps. 113; 1.— "Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O 
ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of 
the Lord." 

1 Thess. 5; 18.— "In everything give thanks, 
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus con- 
cerning you." 

Ps. 75; 1.— "Unto thee, O God, do we give 
thanks, unto thee do we give thanks." 

Neh. 9 ; 5, 6.— "Stand up and bless the Lord 
your God for ever and ever : Thou, even Thou, 
art Lord alone ; thou hast made heaven, the 
heaven of heavens, with all their host, the 
earth and all things that are therein, the seas, 
and all that is therein, and thou preservest 
them all." 

Ps. 63 ; 4, 5. -"Thus will I bless thee while I 
live : I will lift up my hands in thy name. 
And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful 
lips." 



42 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

Ps. 145; 1, 2.— "I will extol thee, my God, O 
King ; and I will bless thy name for ever and 
ever. Every day will I bless thee ; and I will 
praise thy name for ever and ever." 

Heb. 13 ; 15. — "By him, therefore, let us of- 
fer the sacrifice ot praise to God continually, 
that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to 
his name." 

James 1 ; 17. — "Every good gift and every 
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down 
from the Father of lights, with whom is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning." 

(Thanksgiving for the gift of a Saviour.) 
O most Merciful Father, I humbly 
thank thee for all thy mercies, both spir- 
itual and temporal ; but above all for the 
gift of thy Son, his life of holy obe- 
dience, and his blessed sacrifice upon the 
cross. Grant me a living* faith in this 
precious Redeemer, and a thankful obe- 
dience to all his commands. Help me to 
love him, for his exceeding* great love 
toward me. And grant, that through 
his merits my sins may be put away, and 
nailed to his cross, and buried in his 
grave, so that they be remembered no 
more against me. Amen. 

(Thanksgiving for the Christian Calling.) 
O Lord, my Heavenly Father, I give 
thee most hearty thanks that thou 'hast 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 43 

called me for thine own child, and hast 
incorporated me in thine holy Church ; 
and made me an heir of thine everlasting- 
kingdom. I thank thee with all my 
heart that I have been brought out of 
darkness and error into the clear light 
of thy truth. I bless thee that in weak- 
ness and temptation I have been defend- 
ed by thy heavenly grace ; and that in 
sorrow and trouble I have been comfort- 
ed with peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. 
I humbly beseech thee to continue thy 
grace and favor toward me, so that I 
may ever walk before thee in thankful- 
ness : through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Amen. 

(Thankfulness after recovery from sickness.) 
Most Gracious God, the father of all 
mercies, and the God of all consolation, 
to whom alone belong the issues of life 
and death : I bless and adore thee, that 
thou hast raised me up from a bed of 
sickness. Blessed be thy holy name for 
supporting me under the pain and an- 
guish of my sick bed, and for restoring 
me in thine own good time, to the com- 
fort of health and strength. 



44 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

Help me, O Lord, to regard this as a 
renewed call to repentence and amend- 
ment of life. To thee would I live in 
holiness and righteousness and faith, all 
my days. O help me to forsake every 
evil way, and above all things to study 
to do that which is well-pleasing in thy 
sight. To this end I earnestly implore 
the aid and guidance of thy Holy Spirit, 
to keep me firm and stedfast in every 
promise and resolution. Aid me, that I 
may be found watching, whenever my 
appointed time to depart may come, and 
thus be ready to exchange this frail state 
of mortality for an immortal crown : 
through the merits of my Saviour Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 



(Thanksgiving for Recovery from Sickness.) 

O God, my Heavenly Father, thou hast 
taught us in thy word, that all our times 
are in thy hand. Thou redeemest our 
life from destruction, and crownest us 
with loving kindness and tender mercies. 
I bless thee that thou hast heard and 
answered my prayers, and hast delivered 
me from the power of this disease. I 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 45 

was brought low, but thou hast helped 
me. 

O Lord, as thou hast delivered mine 
eyes from tears, my feet from falling-, 
and my soul from death, I would daily 
ask, What shall I render unto the Lord 
for all his benefits to me ? Aid me, that 
I may offer up my life unto thee, as a 
sacrifice of thanksgiving-, and call con- 
tinually upon the name of the Lord. 
Teach me, that a recovery from sickness 
is only a reprieve : that the sentence 
which dooms man to the dust is only 
suspended : and that, at most, in a few 
years I shall go the way whence I shall 
not return. O Saviour, be with me in 
life, and in the hour of death forsake me 
not. Amen. 



(A general Thanksgiving.) 

Almighty, and Most Loving Father : 
I will bless thee and praise thy holy 
name, both now and evermore, for all 
thy mercies to me. Thou hast multi- 
plied thy mercies upon me from day to 
day. Glory be to thee, O Lord, for my 
being and preservation : for health and 



46 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

strength ; for understanding- and mem- 
ory ; for friends and benefactors ; but 
above all, glory be to thee for giving thy 
Son to become our Mediator, and to die 
for our sins. Glory be to thee for all 
thy helps of grace, and for the sure hope 
of heaven. Thou hast indeed dealt lov- 
ingly with me. While I live will I 
praise the Lord : yea, as long as I have 
any being, will I sing praises to my God. 
My mouth shall show forth thy right- 
eousness all the day long. Blessed be 
the Lord, my God, who only doeth won- 
drous things ; and blessed be his name 
forever ; and all the earth shall be filled 
with his glory. Amen. 



(A General Thanksgiving.) 

O God, Giver of all good, and Foun- 
tain of all mercies; all glory, thanks and 
praise be unto thee for thine everflowing 
kindness and mercy : for thy faithful- 
ness, which is from one generation to 
another : for thy mercies, which are new 
every morning, fresh every moment, and 
more than I can number : for seed-time 
and harvest, and summer and winter : for 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 47 

food and raiment and shelter : for health 
of body and of mind : for thy fatherly 
care in health and sickness, in joy and 
sorrow, in temptation and trial, in life 
and death : for friends and kindred and 
kind benefactors : for home and country: 
for thy g-ospel and thy holy Church. 
Yea, Lord, thou hast crowned thy 
mercies to us by the g-ift of thy Son, 
and by his blessed work. Therefore, I 
humbly beseech thee, give me grace to 
offer myself a living* sacrifice of thank- 
fulness unto thee, always praising- and 
magnifying- thy mercies : for Christ's 
sake. Amen. 



48 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 



III. Prayers for the Family. 

1. A Morning Prayer for the use of the 
Family. 

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father : 
we present ourselves at thy mercy seat, 
to bring" thee our morning* sacrifice of 
praise and thanksgiving-. Every day 
bring-s new proof of thy gracious care, 
and unceasing- kindness. We bless thee 
that thou hast watched over us during* 
the silence and darkness of the past 
nig-ht, and that thou hast protected us 
from all perils and dang-ers of body and 
soul. Take us, O Lord, ag-ain this day, 
and all the days of our lives, under thy 
divine care. Be thou our Lig*ht, and 
g-uide our feet by thy holy word and 
Spirit, that we may not walk in the 
darkness of our own ways, according* to 
the desires of our flesh : but that we may 
have grace to live according* to thy di- 
vine will. Prepare us, O Lord, for our 
daily work : and for our warfare against 
sin and Satan. Defend us from the evil 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 49 

that is in the world. Guide us by thy 
counsel. Sustain us by thy Providence. 
Strengthen us with might by the Spirit 
in the inner man ; and bless us with all 
spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus : to 
the end that we may serve thee accepta- 
bly, and in our generation usefully, and 
at last be made meet for the inheritance 
of tlry saints in light. 

Be with us, O Lord, as a household, 
and go with each one of us, as we sepa- 
rate to our respective labors for the day. 
Keep us in thy fear. Bless and protect 
our rulers. Uphold all faithful minis- 
ters of the gospel. Be thou the guide of 
inexperienced youth and the staff of de- 
clining age. Build up all thy saints in 
their most holy faith, and let the ends of 
the earth soon see thy salvation. Hear 
us, O God, in heaven, thy dwelling place, 
and when thou hearest, forgive. We ask 
it through infinite riches of grace in 
Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 



2. A Morning Prayer for the use of the 
Family. 

O Lord, our heavenly Father: we come 
before thee now with the voice of prayer 



50 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

and thanksgiving. Thou art worthy of 
all honor. The heavens declare thy 
glory, and the firmament sheweth thy 
handy work. Day unto day uttereth 
speech, and night unto night sheweth 
knowledge. O Lord, our Lord, how ex- 
cellent is thy name in all the earth, who 
hast set thy glory above the heavens ! 

From our earliest years thou hast 
blessed us, and led us by thy providence. 
We beseech thee to visit us again at this 
time in mercy, and to supply all our tem- 
poral and spiritual wants. We are ig- 
norant : do thou open our souls to the 
knowledge of the truth. We are guilty: 
do thou wash away our sins in the blood 
of the crucified one. We are surrounded 
with temptations : do thou bring us un- 
der the banner of the Captain of our sal- 
vation, that we may become more than 
conquerors. Whether we live, may we 
live unto the Lord. Or, whether we die, 
may we die unto the Lord : that, liv- 
ing, or dying, we may be the Lord's. 

Aid us, Lord, O that as we go unto our 
daily duties, we may carry about with 
us a sense of thy presence, and of the re- 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 51 

lations in which we stand to thee, so 
that we may be enabled to live to thy 
glory. In all the trials and cares of life, 
help us to manifest the spirit and temper 
of the disciples of Christ ; to endure as 
seeing- thee who art invisible ; and at all 
times to look upon ourselves as strangers 
and pilgrims, who are seeking a better 
country, that is, a heavenly one. Let 
thy presence go with us wherever we go. 
Let thy blessing rest upon us, wherever 
we dwell. Preserve us this day : for in 
thee do we put our trust. Thou hast de- 
livered our souls from death ; wilt thou 
not deliver our feet from falling, that we 
may walk before God alway. Leave us 
not, nor forsake us, O God of our salva- 
tion. May our lives, even now, be hid 
with Christ in God : so that when he 
shall appear, we also may appear with 
him in glory. Hear us now, and when 
thou hearest, forgive : and accept of us, 
and bless us. And unto the Father, the 
Son, and the Holy Spirit, will we give 
all the praise, world without end. Amen. 



52 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

3. An Evening Prayer for the use of the 
Family. 

O Father of all mercies, we thy ser- 
vants lift up our praises and supplica- 
tions at thy footstool. We pray thee to 
accept of our persons, and of our sacri- 
fice, for the sake of our great High 
Priest, Jesus Christ, who has passed into 
the heavens and taken his seat as our 
Advocate on high. O Lord, thou know- 
est our hearts and our needs. Grant us 
such blessings as we stand in need of. 
If our burden be a heart of unbelief, lift 
on us the light of thy truth and scatter 
our doubts. If we are weary and heavy- 
laden, give us the rest of the covenant of 
grace. If we have a name to live, while 
we are dead, send us an unction from the 
Holy One. If we are panting after the 
follies of the earth, and laying up treas- 
ures here, show us the vanity of this 
world's possessions and enjoyments, and 
put a new song into our mouths, even 
praise to our God. While we live, may 
we live unto thee ; and when thou callest 
us hence, may death be gain unto us. 

O Most Faithful God and Father : we 
beseech thee to forgive our sins and in- 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 53 

firmities with which we are most justly 
chargeable, in the duties of this day. 
Remember not our transgressions against 
us. Cause us to die daily unto sin, and 
to live unto righteousness. O Lord, in- 
crease our faith, deepen our repentence, 
enlarge and sustain our love toward all 
men. 

O Thou Shepherd of Israel, who never 
slumberest nor sleepest, unto thy care we 
commit ourselves this night. Defend us 
from all perils and dangers, that wheth- 
er we wake or sleep, we may be the 
Lord's. Never leave us, nor forsake us. 
Be our God and Guide through all the 
changes of life, and cause us to dwell in 
the house of the Lord forever. 

And to thee, the Father, the Son , and 
the Holy Spirit, one God, we ascribe all 
praise, and glory, and blessing, and hon- 
or, and thanksgiving, world without end. 
Amen. 



4. An Evening Prayer for the use of the 
Family. 

O Lord our God, how excellent is thy 
name in all the earth ! We adore thee, 
as the King eternal, immortal and invis- 



54 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

ible : the only wise, living* and true God. 

We thank thee that thou hast poured 
out upon us thy good gifts : that thou 
hast crowned our days with thy mercy 
and loving-kindness. We praise thee for 
all the blessings of this life, and for all 
the promises of a better life to come. 
We bless thee for our creation and preser- 
vation ; for the comforts of every day, 
and for the support of every hour. Es- 
pecially do we bless thee for calling us 
to a knowledge of thy will ; for the 
means of grace and for the hope of glory. 

But we acknowledge before thee, O 
God, that we are great sinners. We feel 
humbled by reason of our unworthiness, 
and the frailty and perverseness of our 
nature, by which we daily transgress thy 
holy law. O pardon us for Christ's sake. 
Cast us not down, as cumberers of the 
ground. Spare us, Good Lord, and may 
we henceforth be neither barren nor un- 
fruitful. Glory be to God in the high- 
est, that peace has been proclaimed on 
earth, and good will to the sons of men ; 
that a Saviour has lived and died, that 
we might be reconciled to God, and thus 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 55 

become the children of God. Lord, we 
would believe. Help thou our unbelief. 

We pray thee to look down this nig-ht 
upon all who stand in need of thy gra- 
cious help. Aid the sick, the afflicted, 
and the needy. Hear the sig-hs and 
prayers of the bereaved and the despair- 
ing. Lift up the lig-ht of thy counte- 
nance upon all who are in the valley of 
the shadow of death : supporting- them 
in their dangers, and bringing- them 
safely into the land of everlasting- rest. 

Spread over us the wings of thy pro- 
tection this night, and raise us up in 
health and strength on the morning- of a 
new day, fitted for its duties, and forti- 
fied for its trials. Be with us all through 
life. And when the days of our pilgrim- 
age are spent, grant that we may find 
grace and favor in thy sig-ht ; tog-ether 
with all thy people who from the begin- 
ning of the world have pleased thee, pa- 
triarchs and prophets, apostles and mar- 
tyrs. And finally bring us to the full 
enjoyment of thy heavenly king-dom. 
All of which we pray for, through infi- 
nite riches of grace in Christ our Lord, 
Amen. 



56 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

5. An Evening Prayer for the use of the 
Family. 

Our Father, who art in Heaven. Again 
we draw near to thy mercy seat. We 
would commune with thee, our most 
faithful and most merciful God, in spirit 
and in truth. We would come in the 
new and living- way, which thou hast 
opened for us, through the mediation of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. Incline thine ear 
unto us, for his sake, and remember us in 
mercy. 

O God, thou art our God : in thee 
alone do we place our confidence , and 
trust. Thou hast led us safely along the 
journey of life thus far. Thou hast 
blessed us richly and abundantly from 
day to day ; and this day too we have ex- 
perienced thy sustaining grace. May 
thy goodness and mercy lead us to true 
repentence, and may our whole lives be 
evidences of our gratitude to thee for all 
thy mercies. 

We acknowledge ourselves to be sin- 
ners before thee. We mourn and confess 
our multiplied transgressions. O humble 
us still more under a sense of our guilt ; 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 57 

and, yet, suffer us not to fall into de- 
spondency, but give us that great conso- 
lation and good hope, which Christ offers 
to us through his sacrifice upon the cross. 

And now that the shadows of evening 
have again closed over our dwelling, we 
beseech thee to spread over us the shel- 
ter of thy protection during the night 
watches. When we lay us down to sleep, 
do thou, O Lord, cause us to rest in safe- 
ty. Defend us from the terrors of the 
night, and preserve us from all evil. 
Ma}^ we also remember thee, and may we 
arise to praise thee. 

O Faithful God and Father : we also 
beseech thee to bless the whole house- 
hold of faith, and all ranks and condi- 
tions of men. Prosper the kingdom of 
Christ in every land, and give light unto 
them that yet sit in darkness, and in the 
region and shadow of death. Bless our 
nation, its rulers and its people. In all 
our borders may there be peace and con- 
tentment : and in all our dwellings may 
evening and morning sacrifice ascend up 
to thee. 

Grant us this night refreshing sleep. 
And when the night of death overtakes 



58 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

us, may we have an entrance ministered 
unto us, into thine everlasting- kingdom : 
into the rest that remaineth for the peo- 
ple of God : through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 

IV, Table Prayers, 

The eyes of all wait upon thee, and 
thou givest them their meat in due sea- 
son. Amen. 



Bless us, O Lord, in what we are about 
to receive ; and give us grace to enjoy 
everything in thee, and thee in every- 
thing : for Christ's sake. Amen. 



O God, from whom cometh down every 
good and perfect gift, enable us to re- 
ceive these fruits of thy bounty with 
gratitude : and give us grace, that 
whether we eat or drink, or whatever we 
do, we may do all to thy glory, and be 
accepted in the Redeemer. Amen. 

O Lord, Creator and Preserver of all 
things : we beseech thee to bless these 
bounties now before us to our use, and 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 59 

us to thy service: through Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



In thee, O Lord, we live and move and 
have our being. Thou preservest us, 
and all that we have is thine. Grant 
now thy divine blessing upon what is 
set before us, and enable us to receive it 
with thankfulness. Feed our souls also 
with the bread of life, and strengthen us, 
that we may do thy holy will : through 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

(After a Meal.) 
Accept, Heavenly Father, our heart- 
felt thanks for this, and for all thy 
blessings : through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 

We praise thee, O Lord, for this re- 
newed token of thy favor. May we be 
truly thankful to thee, and manifest our 
gratitude b} T our lives: and be fitted final- 
ly to eat in thy heavenly kingdom above: 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 



60 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

V. PRAYERS. 

To be offered in behalf of the Sick. 

i. A Prayer in behalf of a sick person at 
the commencement of a sickness. 

O merciful Father, who hast set 
bounds unto our lives, beyond which we 
cannot pass, help us to be grateful unto 
thee, for the many days of health we 
have enjoyed at thy hands. And as 
this (sister, brother, friend, or child) is 
now called upon to drink of the bitter 
cup of affliction, help {him) to do it with 
patience and humility, submitting entire- 
ly to thy merciful and holy will. O 
teach (him) that sickness and sorrow are 
warning* messengers from on high to for- 
sake all sin, to live unto holiness, to be 
prepared for our latter end, and to make 
our peace with God. We know from thy 
word, O Lord, that thou permittest chas- 
tisements to come upon thy people, in or- 
der that they may not be condemned with 
the world, but may become transformed 
into the likeness of thy dear Son, and 
thus be prepared to enter with him 



PRIVATK DKVOTIONS. 61 

into thy glory. O grant {him) therefore 
the presence of thy Spirit, that {tie) may 
meditate during the night watches of 
this sickness, on the vanity and misery of 
this present life, and on the glory of the 
eternal world : so that {he) may bear this 
affliction with submission and humility, 
kissing the rod whereby the Lord is 
chastening {him), and trusting wholly in 
thy mercy through Jesus Christ. And if 
it may be thy will, we humbly beseech 
thee, O Father of all mercies, restore 
{him) speedily to health and strength, 
that {he) may still further carry out thy 
purposes on earth. All of which we ask 
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord 
and Redeemer. Amen. 



2. A Prayer for a Sick Person. 

Almighty and Eternal God, Creator, 
Preserver, and Ruler of all things, to 
whom belong the issues of life and death: 
we implore thee to look down in mercy 
upon this thy servant, whom thou hast 
been pleased to visit with bodily afflic- 
tion and disease. Let thy fatherly good- 
ness and mercy be near, as a rich fount- 
ain of comfort and strength, that {he) 



62 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

may bear this sickness with Christian 
fortitude and patience. Encourage and 
quicken {his) faint soul with thy Holy 
Spirit, that (he) may by repentence and 
faith be prepared for all the issues of 
this present sickness. O do thou help, 
that (he) may come to a true estimate of 
this life, its vanity, its abiding cares and 
sorrows, so that (he) may be ready to 
obey cheerfully thy call, whether that 
call be to further serve thee in thy earth- 
ly vineyard, or to depart this present life 
and be at rest with the children of God. 
Strengthen (his) faith in the merits of 
Christ's death, and in the power of his 
resurrection and intercession, so that in 
all (his) sufferings the Lord may be a 
present help and a faithful friend. Let 
(him) cast all (his) cares on thee, submit 
entirely to thee, with child-like confi- 
dence and trust. We know that the way 
of the cross is a heavenly way, and that 
even in and through sickness the Lord is 
ready to do good unto those that love 
and obey him. Grant (him) grace to be 
in charity with all men ; to set (his) 
earthly house in order, and to await the 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 63 

will of the Heavenly Father. Bless the 
means made use of for the restoration of 
{his) health, that if it be possible he may 
again be restored to health and strength. 

O Lord Jesus, who hast suffered, and 
knowest our distresses, and unto whom 
all power is given in heaven and ( in 
earth ; mercifully hear our prayers. O 
spare {him) yet a time longer to his 
friends. Grant {him) the comfort of thy 
presence. Make his faith strong and un- 
wavering, and his hope stedfast. Let 
thine arms of everlasting love be round 
about {him). Uphold {him) by thy free 
Spirit. And when heart and flesh shall 
fail, be thou the strength of {his) heart, 
and the stay of {his) life. And if thou 
callest {him) hence, may {he) depart in 
peace, and enter into those heavenly 
joys, which eye hath not seen, nor ear 
heard, that {he) may dwell with thee for- 
ever. 

Our Father who art in Heaven, etc. 
Amen. 

3. A Prayer for a Sick Person. 

Almighty and Most Merciful Father, 
the everlasting refuge of thy believing 



64 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

children : hear us, we humbly beseech 
thee, as we pray in behalf of thy sick 
servant, whom it hath pleased thee to 
afflict with bodily disease and weak- 
ness. O mercifully comfort and relieve 
{him), so that with returning- health (he) 
may live to thank thee, and to praise 
thee, and to do thy most holy will ever- 
more : through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



4. A Prayer for a Sick Person. 

O Most Merciful Father, the Strength 
of the weak, the Comfort of the sorrow- 
ful, the Refuge of the distressed, and the 
life of the dying : we know from thy 
word that all things, and therefore all 
sorrows and sufferings, must work to- 
gether, for good, unto them that love 
God. For tribulation worketh patience ; 
and patience, experience ; and experience, 
hope ; and hope maketh not ashamed. 

O Lord, send down thy Holy Spirit up- 
on this afflicted friend, and grant that 
(she) may be comforted and preserved un- 
to eternal life. Help (her) to fight the 
good fight of faith, and to preserve a 
good conscience before thee. Remember 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 65 

not the sins of the past life, nor the omis- 
sions of duty. O Lord, grant true re- 
pentence, a hearty sorrow for sin, and 
the preparation of the heart for true 
comfort. Grant {her) a spirit of meek- 
ness, of humility, of patience, of submis- 
sion to thy holy will ; of a willingness 
to bear suffering's, even as Christ bore 
them. 

O Heavenly Father, from whom Com- 
eth every good and perfect gift, have 
mercy upon {her) and restore {her) to 
health and streng-th. 

O Lord Jesus Christ, who art the au- 
thor and finisher of our faith, have mer- 
cy upon {her), and give {her) peace. 

O holy Spirit, who workest in us both 
to do and to will of thy g-ood pleasure, 
comfort {her) during the hours of sick- 
ness and affliction. 

And the peace of God which passeth 
all understanding, keep {her) heart and 
mind in the love of God, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



5. A Prayer for one who is dangerously ill. 

O Merciful God and Father, we come 
before thee, in behalf of thy servant who 



66 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

is in great weakness of body under thy 
chastening- hand. Look down upon {him) 
in pity, we beseech thee. O Lord, if 
thou wilt, thou canst even yet raise {him) 
up, and heal all his infirmities. Spare 
(him), O Lord, and restore (him) to 
health. Comfort our hearts by granting- 
(him) a longer continuance among- us. 
But whatever be thy holy will, g-ive us 
all submission thereto, and let (his) soul 
be ever precious in thy sig-ht. Grant 
(him) a true repentence, a lively and tri- 
umphant faith in Jesus Christ, a hope 
that is sure and stedfast, entering- with- 
in the veil. Wash (his) soul with the 
blood of thy Son, that it may be cleansed 
from all sins, and in the great day be 
presented pure and without spot before 
thee. If thou shouldst raise (him) ag-ain 
from this bed of sickness, may (he) lead 
the residue of (his) life in thy fear, 
and to thy glory. Or, if thou hast other- 
wise determined, prepare (him) for the 
hour of departure, and support (him) in 
the last and trying- hour. And finally 
receive us all into thy heavenly king-- 
dom : through the merits and mediation 
of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 67 

6. A Prayer for a Sick Child. 

O God, who art the Father of all thy 
children in heaven and in earth, and who 
takest pity upon us, even as a father pit- 
ieth his children : look down in mercy 
upon this dear child, now stretched upon 
the bed of affliction. O reg-ard its pain, 
and suffering-, and anguish, as well as 
our sorrow and affliction. Impute not 
unto this child its sin and depravity ; nor 
do unto us according* to our transgress- 
ions. But, we humbly beseech thee, 
bless it, according- to thy g-reat mercy. 
Bless the means made use of to restore 
its health. And f orgive us all our trans- 
gressions for the sake of thy dear Son, 
who was once a child among-st us. O 
spare thy child, created by thee, redeem- 
ed by thy Son, and consecrated to thy 
service. Be very near unto it : yea, over- 
shadow it with thy wing's of love during- 
all its afflictions. If it be thy will, ease 
its pains, and speedily restore it to 
health, to our joy and great comfort ; 
that it may live to praise thee, and to 
serve thee in the beauty of holiness. 
But if it must depart, O give it a calm 



68 PRIVATE) DEVOTIONS. 

and peaceful passage from time to eter- 
nity : for the sake of the bitter passion 
of thy Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 

*t* *?* *?* *t* 

VI. Prayers for the use of the Sick 

and the Dying. 

1. A Daily Morning Prayer. 

O Father of Mercies, and God of all 
comfort, my only help in time of need : 
thanks be unto thee, that thou hast sus- 
tained me through the watches of an- 
other night, and permitted me to see the 
dawning of another day. O God, thy 
mercies are new every morning. This 
precious truth I am permitted to exper- 
ience, even in my sickness. How much 
greater pain and distress might have 
come upon me ! How easily could a sud- 
den death have carried me away ! But 
thou hast remembered me in mercy. 
Thou hast preserved me by thy almighty 
power. Therefore I praise and magnify 
thy name, that thou *hast again been a 
present Helper in my time of need. 

Be with me, O God, this day, and do 
unto me, not according to my sins, but 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 69 

according- to thy mercy i O dearest Sa- 
viour, wash me with thine atoning- blood, 
and cleanse me from all my sins. Clothe 
me in thy righteousness, and make me 
acceptable, in thee, to the Father. Draw 
me to thyself, that I may have my high- 
est joy and truest comfort in thee ; that 
I may have peace, and patience, and sub- 
mission, in the midst of all my bodily 
suffering's. Deliver me from all the van- 
ities of the world, and break all sinful 
bands that would bind me to this life. 

O Lord, my Saviour, who art the true 
and only rest of the soul, strengthen me 
in body and soul, and give me to know 
thy saving help and comfort. And since 
thou didst bear the burden of all our sins 
and guilt, grant that I may receive and 
experience the fullness of thy redemp- 
tion : so that whether I live or die, I may 
be entirely thine, in time and eternity. 

Our Father, who art in heaven, etc, 
Amen. 



2. A Daily Evening Prayer. 

O Father in Heaven, who makest me 
to experience thy mercy, from morning 
until evening, and from evening until 



70 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

morning*, I thank thee with my whole 
heart, that thou hast been my stay and 
support this day, and that thou hast up- 
held me with thy free grace. I feel how 
unworthy I am to be the recipient of thy 
blessing's, and how, by reason of my sins, 
I have deserved to be rejected and for- 
saken by thee. But thou hast gracious- 
ly preserved me thus far, and art still 
willing to call me to repentence, and to 
invite me to walk in thy paths. Help 
me to understand that this sickness is 
also an earnest call from thee. O teach 
me to be thankful to thee, for all the 
suffering's of the Saviour, in my behalf. 
And though the way in which I am 
called to walk is often dark, help me to 
believe, that all things must work to- 
gether for good to me. O that I might 
love my Saviour from my whole heart, 
and submit myself entirely to thy will. 
Sanctify to me all, even the bitterest and 
most painful trials that I must yet pass 
through. Grant that this sickness may 
renew me in the inner man ; that it may 
wean my heart from earthly things ; so 
that I may seek and find my supreme joy 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 71 

no longer in myself, nor in this world, 
but in thee. O thou faithful Father in 
heaven, let me rest this night secure in 
thy arms ; support me through its un- 
known dangers by thy gracious help ; 
and so watch over me, that no evil may 
befall me, and that my pain and dis- 
ease may not increase. Grant me, if it 
be thy will, refreshing sleep as I rest un- 
der the shadow of thy wings. Into thine 
hands I commit myself, for thou hast re- 
deemed me, O Lord God of truth. Amen. 



3. A Penitential Prayer. 

O Most Merciful God, my Heavenly 
Father : remember not against me my nu- 
merous offenses, but spare me in thy 
mercy. O Saviour, spare thy servant, 
whom thou hast redeemed with thy most 
precious blood, and be not angry with 
me forever. Deliver me from the guilt 
and burden of my sins ; from the sting 
and terrors of conscience ; and from im- 
patience, distrust and despair. 

O Lord God, may it please thee to re- 
member me with the favor, which thou 
bearest to thy people, and visit me with 
thy salvation. Make me a partaker of 



72 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

all thy mercies and promises in Christ 
Jesus ; and refresh me with the peace 
and consolations of thy Holy Spirit. 
Bless the means that are employed for 
my recovery, and in thine own appoint- 
ed time, deliver me from all sickness, 
that I may live henceforth to thee, and 
be an instrument of thy glory. Yet not 
my will, but thine, O Lord, be done. If 
in thine infinite wisdom my appointed 
time shall now come, O give me patience 
and submission to thy holy will : and fi- 
nally receive me into those heavenly hab- 
itations, where the souls of those who 
sleep in the Lord Jesus do enjoy perpet- 
ual rest and felicity. Grant this, O Mer- 
ciful Father, for Christ's sake. Amen. 

4. A Prayer for Relief from great Pain. 

O God, the Holy one, the Comforter of 
believers, the Strength of the weak, the 
Joy of the sorrowful : come to me, and 
help me, in my great pain and misery. 
I am so faint and weak, as scarcely to be 
able to live. Strengthen me through 
thy grace, and ease my pains, that I may 
be able to bear them. O Holy Spirit, be 
a witness to my Spirit, that I am a child 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 73 

of God, and that my Heavenly Father 
orders all thing's for my highest g-ood. 
Quicken my faith, that I may endure this 
trial. Thou Water of Life, refresh my 
weary soul, that I may not entirely faint 
away. Speak to my soul, that I may be 
assured of the salvation of God, here in 
this present life ; and in the life to come 
ma}^ enjoy it forever. For the Redeem- 
er's sake. Amen. 

5. Short Prayers in times of Distress. 

O Blessed Lord, sustain me in all my 

trials. Prepare my soul against thy 

coming, and come when thou wilt. O 

Saviour of all who hope in thee, do as 

seemeth best in thy sight. Only grant 

me a patient and penitent spirit. Make 

me acceptable thee, while I live, and 

make my soul ready for thee when I die. 

Give me grace in this life, and glory in 

the life to come : for thy name's sake. 
Amen. 



Almighty God, be with me in this 
hour. Strengthen me, and stay with me, 
with thy g-ood Spirit, that this time of 
trial may be blest unto my soul: for 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



74 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

Teach me, O Lord, how weak and frail 
I am : how fleeting- and uncertain is my 
mortal life. Teach me, so to number my 
days, that I may apply my heart unto 
wisdom. Amen. 



O God the Son, who art the same yes- 
terday, to-day, and forever : thou know- 
est my pain and distress, for thou art a 
merciful High Priest. O help me in this 
trying* hour. Amen. 

O blessed Comforter : in every distress 
be thou with me. Help my weakness, 
alleviate my pain, and let me not sink 
into despondency and despair. Amen. 

O Father, out of the depths I cry unto 
thee : hear my voice, and be attentive un- 
to my prayer. My hope is in thee : for 
with thee there is grace and much com- 
passion. O turn my sorrow into joy, as 
thou hast promised, that those that sow 
in tears shall reap in joy : for Christ's 
sake. Amen. 



6. A Prayer at the Moment of Death. 
Farewell (father, mother, sisters, broth- 
ers, friends, kindred)\ Farewell, all the 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 75 

scenes of earth ! Welcome, sun and 
moon and stars ! Welcome, God and 
Father ! Welcome, Saviour, Mediator 
of the new covenant ! Welcome, Blessed 
Spirit of grace, God of all comfort ! 
Welcome glory ! Welcome, eternal life ! 
Welcome, death ! Into thy hands I 
commit my spirit. Thou hast redeemed 
me, O Lord God of Truth. Amen. 

7. Short Prayers that may be dictated to 
Dying Persons. 

O Most Merciful Father, help me in 
my t^ing- hour. O God, Gracious Fath- 
er, abide with me now. O Jesus, my 
Lord and my Redeemer, remain with me. 
I wish to die, relying- alone on Jesus. 
Living*, I am his : dying*, I am his. O 
Holy Spirit, strengthen me, keep me, 
and preserve my soul unto eternal life. 
Amen. 



O Saviour, by thy bitter passion^and 
death, be near me. I cling- to thee. O 
forsake me not. Help me to overcome. 
I am thine, purchased by thy precious 
blood. If thou art with me I will not 
fear death. 



76 PRARKRS FOR THK 

Rock of Ag-es ! cleft for me, 

L,et me hide myself in thee. 

Let the water and the blood, 

From thy riven side which flowed 

Be of sin the double cure : 

Cleanse me from its g"uilt and power. 

Amen. 

O Holy, Blessed and Glorious Trinity, 
three persons and one God, have mercy 
upon me, and receive my soul. Amen. 

VII. Prayers for the Social Pray- 
er Meeting. 

1. For the Social Prayer Meeting. 

Most Merciful Father in heaven, whom 
all the hosts of heaven obey, and whom 
all thy children love to praise : we would 
gather before the mercy-seat with child- 
like trust in thee. For we know that 
thou art nigh unto them that are of *a 
contrite heart, and that thou wilt hear 
such as be of an humble spirit. Thou 
art full of compassion and mercy, long- 
suffering, and plenteous in goodness and 
truth. Turn unto us, O Lord, at this 
time, and have mercy upon us, for we 
confess and bewail our sins. We desire 
to turn from them with full purpose of 
heart. Help us to approach thee with 



SOCIAL PRAYER MEETING. 77 

reverence and godly fear ; to be willing 
to forsake the sins we confess, and 
to sincerely desire the mercies for which 
we pray : so that we may be heard and 
answered when we call upon thee in the 
name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We beseech thee, O Lord, to give us 
grace, that we may be enabled to live as 
thou wouldst have us to live. Help us 
so to number our days, that we may ap- 
ply our hearts unto wisdom. As we 
grow in years, may we also grow in 
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Teach us how 
to live lives of faith, that our daily walk 
may be sanctified, and that all our labors 
may be blessed from on high, and bring 
honor unto thy name. 

Most Merciful Saviour, we beseech 
thee to bless and prosper thy Church 
throughout the world. Clothe thy min- 
isters with righteousness, and let the 
people rejoice in the spread of the gospel 
of peace and reconciliation. Grant that 
all thy followers may be earnest, sincere, 
true-hearted, humble, walking in thy 
footsteps, and keeping themselves un- 



78 PRAYERS FOR THE 

spotted from the world. O save us from 
the curse of formality, from a vain and 
worldly spirit, from covetousness, from 
envy and from luke-warmness. Revive 
thy work in the midst of thy people. 
Keep us from errors in doctrine, and er- 
rors in practice ; and do thou crown thy 
work with thy blessing*. 

O God, we pray that the whole world 
may soon hear the glad news of redemp- 
tion in Christ Jesus. We pray thee to 
fulfill thy promises of old, for the dark 
places of the earth are still full of the 
habitations of cruelty. Send forth thy 
light and thy truth, that the heathen 
may also be gathered into thy fold. O 
Saviour, may the trumpet of thine ever- 
lasting gospel be blown soon in every 
land, that the jubilee of the race may 
come, and that thou mayest see of the 
travail of thy soul. And unto thee, be 
all glory and blessing*, both now and 
ever. Amen. 



2. For the Social Prayer Meeting. 

O God, our Heavenly Father, we 
would bow down before thee in humble 
adoration and praise. We are but of 



SOCIAL PRAYER MEETING. 79 

yesterday, but from eternity to eternity 
thou art God. We all do fade as a leaf, 
but thou endurest through all genera- 
tions. We know, O God, that it is of thee 
alone that we have been preserved until 
the present time. We thank thee for thy 
mercy in prolonging- our days. We 
praise thee for the blessing's of health 
and strength, of prosperity and every-day 
comforts ; for the ability to labor, and 
for all the success attending- our efforts. 
We thank thee, O our Father, that thou 
blessest and sparest us, though we have 
not deserved this. Like as a father pit- 
ieth his children, so is the Lord merciful 
to them that fear him. Especially do 
we praise thee for the gift of thy Son, 
that infinite gift : that thou didst send 
him to us sinners; that thou didst uphold 
him in all his sufferings ; that thou didst 
accept his redemption ; and that thou 
hast exalted him to be a Prince and a 
Saviour, so that he ever lives to make 
intercession for us, in the Holy of Holies 
above. 

We pray thee, O Lord, to teach us to 
love this Saviour for his matchless love 



80 PRAYERS FOR THE 

to us. Write thy laws in our hearts, that 
we may keep and do them. Make us to 
be doers of the word, and not hearers on- 
ly. Yea, do thou reign on the throne of 
our souls, and rule in our hearts by thy 
Holy Spirit. 

O Lord, we acknowledge, with shame 
and confusion of face, that we have often 
been unmindful of thee, and of thy good- 
ness to us. We feel that we have sinned 
against Heaven, and in thy sight, and 
are no more worthy to be called thy chil- 
dren. But we bless and praise thee, that 
thou hast taught us, that the blood of 
Christ cleanseth from all sin. We would 
fly, therefore, to Jesus, who hath borne 
our iniquities, and who is ever able and 
willing to save. 

And now, Lord, we would pray the to 
enable us to serve thee henceforth with 
our whole heart. Give us watchfulness 
and strength, and presence of mind, to 
resist sudden temptation, and all assaults 
of Satan. Make us to walk uprightly, 
and consistently, as the sincere followers 
of Jesus. Bless us in our going out, and 
in our coming in. 



SOCIAL PRAYER MEETING. 81 

We beseech thee also to bless all who 
are near and dear to us. Bless our Pas- 
tor : support him in his responsible la- 
bors. Bless our country, and those who 
are in authority over us. Guide and di- 
rect all who are in places of public trust. 
Give peace and prosperity to our land, 
and to all that dwell therein. Remem- 
ber thy Church universal. Send forth 
faithful laborers into thy vineyard. May 
the kingdoms of this world soon become 
the kingdoms of our Lord, and may the 
knowledge of the Lord soon cover the 
earth, as the waters cover the sea. O 
Lord, forgive all our offences, watch over 
us, and finally receive us into thy king- 
dom above : for the sake of Jesus Christ, 
our Lord and Redeemer. Amen. 



3. For the Social Prayer Meeting. 

O God, eternal, immortal, invisible. 
Thou, even thou alone, art God. For 
thou hast made heaven, the heaven of 
heavens, with all their host ; the earth, 
and all things therein ; the sea, and all 
things therein. And thou preservest 
them all. All the hosts of heaven do 
worship thee. O help us also to worship 



82 PRAYERS FOR 

thee in the beauty of holiness, in spirit 
and in truth. 

Help us, O God, at all times to remem- 
ber thy goodness and thy mercy. For 
thou dost daily load us with benefits. 
Thou g-ivest us our food, our raiment, 
our homes, and all that we have. Thou 
hast watched over us ever since we were 
born, and by thy providence thou hast 
crowned our lives with thy gifts of love. 
Thou hast cast our lot in a Christian 
land, a land abounding in gospel privi- 
leges. Thou hast surrounded us with 
the holy influences of thy Church. For 
all these blessings we return thee the 
sincere love and gratitude of our hearts. 

Help us by thy grace, O Lord, that we 
may improve these, our privileg-es and 
mercies. We seek thy pardoning grace ; 
we submit ourselves without reserve to 
thy will. 

O pour out thy spirit upon us here, 
that the work of the Lord may prosper. 
And when thou hast served thy righteous 
purposes with us here, grant O Lord, 
that we may be numbered among those, 
whom thou wilt gather from among- all 
kindreds, and people and tongues, to 
praise and glorify thee forever, in thy 
heavenly kingdom : through riches of 
grace in Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. 



CHRISTIAN KNDEAVORERS. 83 



VIII. Prayers for Christian En- 
deavor Meetings. 

Dear Lord, we pray thee to bless our 
Christian Endeavor Society. Strengthen 
its members. Bless the active members 
and help them to take active part in the 
prayer meeting's. Bless the associate 
members and help them that they soon 
may become active members. Bless the 
topics of our prayer meetings to our 
growth in grace. Bless our leaders and 
guide them as they lead the services. If 
any of our members are careless make 
them interested. We are all only en- 
deavoring, but do thou bless our endeav- 
ors, and make them the beginnings of 
greater things for thee. May this society 
be a mighty power for good in this 
church. Keep us from bickerings and 
strifes. Make us all self-denying and 
kind. Build us up in faith and in char- 
acter. Amen. 



Blessed Saviour, thou who wast young 
and never wast old, we come to thee as 
young disciples. Help us by thy sympa- 
thy and strengthen us by thy love. Thou 
knowest the temptations of youth, for 
thou wast tempted, deliver us from them. 
Help us to fashion our young lives more 



84 PRAYERS FOR 

like thy life. Give us ever the youthful 
spirit until we come to that land of eter- 
nal youth where they shall "run and not 
be weary, they shall walk and not faint." 
Amen. 



Father, O Father, thou art our father, 
we are thy children, help us to be like 
thee in spirit as we are in name. Thou 
dost love us with an infinite Father's 
love, help us to love thee in return. Give 
us the dutiful, obedient spirit of true 
children that we may always do thy will. 
Help us ever to be mindful of thy slight- 
est call. Feed us from thy fatherly ta- 
ble with the bread and water of life, and 
at last gather us in thy eternal home to 
be with the great family of God forever. 
Amen. 



Dear Saviour, thou art our Saviour, 
save us from sin — from both its guilt 
and power. Blot out all our guilt from 
the book of thy remembrance and re- 
member our sins no more against us. 
Wash and cleanse us thoroughly from 
our iniquity. Make us pure and clean 
within, and as thou hast taken away our 
guilt on the cross, O give us strength to 
resist the power of sin, and especially to 
conquer our own besetting sins. Save 
us also from the power of sins around us 
in the world. Keep us from bad com- 



CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORKRS. 85 

panions and from going- to places of 
temptation. Help us to overcome sin 
around us, as well as within us, so that 
we may inherit at last a place by the 
tree of life in heaven. Amen. 



O God, thou art Light, be our light. 
Illuminate our hearts by thy Holy Spirit. 
Take away any darkness of error within 
our minds, and explain to us the dark 
things. Though we cannot understand 
thy mysteries, help us to trust them to 
thee. Make our whole hearts within us 
bright by thy light. Give us light be- 
fore us as well as within us. Do thou 
light our paths before us as thou didst 
light the way of the Isrealites through 
the wilderness, by the cloud by day and 
pillar of fire by night. And at last take 
us from this world of darkness and sin 
to thy home of ineffable light above. 
Amen. 



Our Father, lead us not into tempta- 
tion but deliver us from evil. Keep our 
members from the little sins of Chris- 
tians. Keep us from getting angry or 
being selfish or proud, or acting mean, 
or being jealous. Help us to to be will- 
ing to sacrifice self and to live only for 
others and for thee. Keep us from spoil- 
ing our Christian consistency and influ- 
ence by going to such places of amuse- 



86 PRAYERS FOR 

ment as might cast a reflection on thy 
name or by going* into any pleasure where 
thou wouldst not go. O make us all 
spiritually minded and less worldly mind- 
ed. May we grow like Christ, that 
others may see Christ in us. Blessed 
are the pure in heart for they shall see 
God. Amen. 



O Thou who art the Great Shepherd, 
bless, we pray thee, thine under-shepherd, 
our pastor. Remember him in great 
love. Encourage his heart in his work. 
Give him many souls for his hire. Bless 
him as he preaches and give his words 
power. Be with him also as he visits 
our homes, especially when he comforts 
the sick and the dying-. Remember him 
with blessing's in his home, in his study, 
in his private devotions. Give him 
great power with thee in prayer, and 
with us in preaching and example. And 
at last may he and we be gathered in 
the eternal Church of God in Heaven. 
Amen. 



Dear Jesus, thou wast tempted as we 
are. In the wilderness thou didst resist 
the devil, help us also to resist him. In 
Gethsemane an angel came and strength- 
ened thee ; do thou, greater than an an- 
gel, strengthen us when tempted. Thou 
art touched with the feeling of our in- 



CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORERS. 87 

firmities, and wast in all points tempted 
like as we are. Lead us not into temp- 
tation but deliver us from evil. Keep us 
each one from our besetting- sin. And 
as we resist these temptations, may we 
grow strong-er by the conflict. May we 
endure hardness as a g-ood soldier of 
Jesus Christ. And finally take us to 
that land where temptations and sin 
can never reach us. Amen. 



Lord God of the Sabbath, help us to 
keep thy Sabbaths. Thou hast com- 
manded "Remember the Sabbath day to 
keep it holy," help us to do only what 
thou wouldst have us to do. Keep us 
from desecrating* Sunday by Sunday ex- 
cursions, or buying- on Sunday. We 
thank thee for these Sabbaths. How 
often have they strengthened us, and 
been foretastes of heaven to our souls. 
O bless to us the Sabbath — "the pearl of 
days." Restrain all Sabbath-breaking-, 
and help us to use the day for our growth 
in grace. Bless us when we g-o to church. 
Bless the Sunday School and the Prayer 
Meeting*. Amen. 



88 PRAYERS FOR 



Prayers for Christian Endeavor Commit- 
tees. 



Flower Committee. 

O Lord Jesus Christ, bless our Flower 
Committee. We thank thee for the 
beauty of flowers, "God's kisses on 
earth." We thank thee that we can 
make our homes beautiful with them 
and that we can bring them to beautify 
our church. And now we pray thee to 
bless the flowers as they go to make glad 
some home. Remember the sick to 
whom we send them. Make the flowers 
messengers of comfort and hope to them. 
Restore the sick to health. Be thou 
their Physician. Give them strength 
to bear their sickness and sanctify it to 
their growth in grace. If they do not 
yet know thee as their personal Saviour, 
O bring them to thee. May their sick- 
beds lead them nearer to Christ. 
Through much tribulation may they at 
last attain eternal life with thee. Amen. 



Temperance Committee. 

O Lord, bless the Temperance Commit- 
tee. Open the eyes of all in our society 
to the great evils of intemperance. O 
save the drunkard from a drunkard's 
grave. Keep us from in any way aiding 
this evil. Help us to totally abstain for 



CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORERS. 89 

the sake of our influence to others. 
Keep any of our society from giving any 
wine or liquor or tempting* any one by 
drink. Keep our members from signing 
petitions for license for a saloon. Make 
us strong and united against this terrible 
curse. Break the power of the saloon in 
politics. Save our country. Save us. 
Save the drunkard from intemperance. 
Amen. 

Lookout Committee. 

Lord Jesus, bless the Lookout Commit- 
tee. Help them to be watchful for thee. 
Make them active in securing new mem- 
bers and give them great wisdom in deal- 
ing with souls. Bless them as they look 
up our delinquent members and try to 
win back those who have lost interest. 
Make their efforts a great blessing to our 
society, and help us to aid them in every 
way. Amen. 

Social Committee. 

Dear Saviour, let thy blessing rest on 
our Social Committee. Help them to 
keep up sociability among our members. 
O keep us, as a society, from coldness 
and stiffness. Help us to welcome 
strangers to our meetings. Bless the 
socials than are held by our societies. 
Especially do we pray thee that we may 
not only be social with one another, but 



90 PRAYERS FOR 

on intimate terms with thee, our God, 
and may we continually live in thy bless- 
ed society here, that we may be fitted to 
spend a blessed eternity with thee here- 
after. Amen. 



Sunday School Committee. 

O Lord, remember our Sunday-school 
Committee. Bless the superintendent 
and all the officers. By thy blessed spirit 
teach the teachers how to teach their 
scholars. May the scholars early learn 
thy precepts and be kept from sin. Make 
the Sunday School Committee efficient in 
bringing in new scholars, in helping* to 
keep order, and in aiding in teaching-, 
and reward them for their labors by suc- 
cess. Amen. 



Good Citizenship Committee. 

Thou King of Kings and Lord of 
Lords, bless all nations, but especially 
our beloved land. Remember the Pres- 
ident and all who rule over us in nation, 
state, and town. Bless our Good-Citizen- 
ship Committee in their efforts to purify 
the politics of the country. Bless them 
as they try to suppress the power of the 
saloon. Help us to encourage them by 
our prayers' and ' our sympathies. Re- 
strain all our national sins and make us 
a godly nation. Amen. 



CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORERS. 91 

Prayer Meeting Committee. 

Remember, O Lord, the Prayer Meet- 
ing- Committee. Give them wisdom in 
selecting- our leaders and in guiding 
our devotions. Help us to support them 
by taking* part in meeting-, and when 
the temptation comes to us to keep silent, 
help us to resist it. Give us hearts to 
sing-, words to speak, and prayers to 
make. O may thy divine spirit come 
down with Pentecostal showers on 
our meeting's, refreshing- our spirits and 
building- up our characters and our faith. 
Amen. 

Missionary Committee. 

O Thou Redeemer of the world, re- 
member our Missionary Committee. We 
pray thee for the heathen that they may 
be saved. Have mercy on them in their 
dark and lost condition. Lead them to 
lig-ht and bring- them to Christ. Re- 
member especially the foreig-n mission- 
aries of our own denomination. Bless 
them and may they save many souls. 
Bless the native churches, bless the 
heathen converts, strengthen them in 
persecution and keep them firm in the 
faith. O hasten the day when salvation 
shall cover the earth as the waters cover 
the sea. Amen. 



92 PRAYERS FOR 

Junior Society. 

Thou Saviour of the children, remem- 
ber our Junior Society. We thank thee 
that thou wast a child and dost love lit- 
tle children. Take the children of our 
Junior Society in thine arms and bless 
them as thou didst when on earth. Help 
them to sing" hosannas in thy temple as 
the children did in Jerusalem. Bless our 
committee who has charge of the Junior 
Society and guide them. Bless the boys 
and girls who are officers of that society. 
Bless those who lead their prayer-meet- 
ings, bless them as they take part in 
their prayer-meetings. Make them bet- 
ter boys and girls. May they lay the 
foundations of character in the Junior 
Society and may they be kept from lives 
of sin. And thus grow up to be- 
come members of the Church and of our 
Society. Amen. 



Sentence Prayers. 

For Beginners. 

I^ord help me. 

"Tell others all around, 

What a dear Saviour I have found." 

Give me strength to take part, dear Saviour. 

Keep me from looking- at myself or thinking 
of others when I take part. Help me only to 
think of thee, and do it for thee, O Christ. 



CHRISTIAN KNDEAVORERS. 93 

Bless our church and make me more faithful 
to it. 

Help me to grow in grace as I grow in years. 

Jesus, thou art strong- but I am weak, give 
me of thy strength. 

Walk with me continually and help me to 
walk with thee. 

Open mine eyes to see wonderful things out 
of thine law. 

Help me ever to look to thee, dear Saviour, 
"as the author and finisher of my faith." 

Bless those who want to take part and have 
not the courage, and give them strength to 
stand up for Jesus. 

Bless my companions and bring them all to 
Jesus. 

Help me to endeavor to speak for Christ, to 
live for Christ and at last to die in Christ. 

Let me hold sweet and precious communion 
with thee. 

"Lord save, I perish !" 

"Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief I" 



Consecration Prayers. 

For Consecration Meeting. 

"But drops of grief can ne'er repay 

The debt of love I owe. 
Here Lord I give myself away, 

"Us all that I can do." 



94 PRAYERS. 

Take me, make me, break me. 

"Take my life and let it be 
Consecrated, Iyord, to thee. 
Take my hands and let them move, 
At the impulse of thy love. 

Ivord send me where thou wilt, only go with 
me. Iyay on me what thou wilt, only sustain 
me. Cut every cord but that which binds me 
to thee. 

Ivord help me "forgetting- the things that are 
behind, to press forward to the mark of the 
prize of our high calling- in Christ Jesus.' ' 

L,ord, make me better, nobler, purer. 

Help me to be more Christ-like in my home, 
my business, and my pleasures. 

Consecrate me to thee, separate me from the 
world and dedicate me to thy service. 

Take me, body, soul, and spirit, that I may 
love thee and my neighbor. 

"Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, 
wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." 

Thine would I live, thine would I die, 
Be thine through all eternity. 
Blessed Saviour thine am I, 
Thine to live and thine to die, 
Height or depth or earthly power 
Ne'er shall hide my Saviour more, 
Ever shall my glory be 
Only, only, only thee. 

"My heart I give to thee sincerely and en- 
tirely."* 
*Note — Calvin's Motto. 



intdex. 



I.— INVITATIONS TO PRAYER 3 

II.— AIDS TO PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 

1. Before uniting- with the Church 4 

2. Before g-oing- to Church 7 

3. After entering- the Church 8 

4. Before the Lord's Supper 9 

5. After the Lord's Supper _ 12 

6. On entering- upon the duties of the 

day _ _ 13 

7. On retiring- to Rest 14 

8. On the death of one's Father or 

Mother 16 

9. On the death of a Friend... 18 

10. When under conviction of Sin 20 

11. After a Relapse into Sin 21 

12. In Times of Adversity and Poverty. 23 

13. In Times of Prosperity 26 

14. In Times of Temptation 28 

15. In Times of Despondency 30 

16. In Times of Care and Trouble 32 

17. In Times of Sickness or Pestilence. 35 

18. Eonging-s after Holiness 37 

19. Eong-ing-s after Heaven _ _ 39 

20. Thanksgiving-s 41 

Thanksgiving- for the g"if t of a Sa- 
viour m 42 

for the Christian Calling- ...42 

after Recovery from Sickness 43 

for Recovery from Sickness.,.44 

A General Thanksgiving- 45 

A General Thanksgiving- 46 

III.— PRAYERS FOR THE FAMIEY. 

1. A Morning- Prayer. 48 

2. A Morning- Prayer 49 

3. An Evening- Prayer 52 

4. An Evening- Prayer 53 

5. An Evening- Prayer 56 

IV.— TABEE PRAYERS 58 



V.— PRAYERS IN BEHALF OF THE SICK. 

1. At the commencement of a Sick- 

ness 60 

2. For a Sick Person 61 

3. For a Sick Person „„63 

4. For a Sick Person... 64 

5. For one dangerously ill 65 

6. For a Sick Child 67 

VI.— PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND DY- 
ING. 

1. A Daily Morning- Prayer 68 

2. A Daily Evening Prayer 69 

3. A Penitential Prayer... 71 

4. For Relief from great Pain 72 

5. In Times of Distress 73 

6. At the Moment of Death 74 

7. For Dying Persons 75 

VII.— PRAYERS FOR THE SOCIAE PRAY- 
ER MEETING. 

1. For the Social Prayer Meeting 76 

2. For the Social Prayer Meeting 78 

3. For the Social Prayer Meeting 81 

VIII.— PRAYERS FOR CHRISTIAN EN- 
ENDEAVOR MEETINGS 83 

For Christian Endeavor Committees...88 

Flower 88 

Temperance ...88 

Lookout _ 89 

Social 89 

— — Sunday School -..90 

Good Citizenship. 90 

Prayer Meeting 91 

Missionary 91 

Junior Society 92 

Sentence Prayers , 92 

Consecration 93 



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